Court Cases
Tinker v. Des Moines
Upheld student's speech right; protected symbolic speech under the 1st amendment.
Marbury v Madison
SCOTUS can strike down laws or parts of laws as unconstitutional (judicial review)
New York Times v. US
"Pentagon papers" government most prove actual harm to national security if it seeks prior restraint to censor the press; 1st amendment right to press.
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the first formal statement by a nation's people asserting their right to choose their own government.
Federalist No. 78
Defense of a strong, independent judiciary.
Shaw v. Reno
a landmark case in the area of redistricting and racial gerrymandering.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
A 2010 landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures.
Gideon v. Wainwright
Basic Principle of Court: every defendant should
have an equal chance at a fair trial & that there is
no logical reason why capital offense appoint
defendants and not noncapital offense
Federalist No. 10
The union guards against factions.
Letters from a Birmingham Jail
The most prominent themes in this letter are justice, Christianity, civil disobedience, and freedom. King employs the rhetorical devices of ethos, logos, and pathos as he argues that denying justice to one person threatens justice for everyone.
Baker vs Carr
Redistrciting qualifies as a justiciable question, enabling federal courts to hear redistricting cases. States recieved more power with redistricting.
Engel v. Vitale
A state authorized students in its public schools to recite a short, voluntary prayer. The Court found that prayer could not be mandated by public schools as it violated establishment clause of 1st Amendment
Roe v. Wade
Planned Parenthood v. Casey: court outlawed PA law of requiring aborting women to secure father's' consent & law designed to discourage abortion and expose the women; however, Planned Parenthood is required to carry abortion alternatives and required to have parental consent for teens
Brutus No. 1
Brutus considered whether or not the thirteen states should be reduced to one republic as the Federalists proposed.
United States Constitution
Founding document for the United States of America.
Marbury v. Madison
This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review in the finding that a congressional statue extending the court's original jurisdiction was unconstitutional.
Schenck v US
The first amendment does not cover things that are a "clear and present danger"
McCulloch v. Maryland
The courts ruled that the states cannot tax the federal government, i.e. the Bank of the United States; the phrase "the power to tax is the power to destroy"; federal government is supreme to the states (supremacy clause); confirmed the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States (elastic clause).
Fed Paper #51
Separation of powers.
Federalist No. 70
Advocacy for a strong, single executive.
McDonald v. Chicago
McDonald wanted to buy a gun, but Chicago had a handgun ban. McDonald believed that that ban went against his constitutional rights. The Supreme Court found that the Due Process/14th amendment applied to the 2nd amendment. Chicago's handgun ban was lifted.
Wisconsin v. Yoder
Amish people refused to send their children to school past the 8th grade when the state required public schooling for all children until age16. Result: This law is in conflict with the Free Exercise clause. The statute is in direct conflict with Amish beliefs. The Amish may teach themselves.
Brown v. Board of Education
The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated; use of 14th amendment and civil rights.
Articles of Confederation
First attempt at a Constitution; inadequate.
Where does Hamilton stand on the power of the judicial branch of government?
Hamilton believes the power of the judicial branch is very significant and an integral part of our government.